New York City Traffic Signal Rules

Traffic Signal Rules

Intersections rank among the highest-risk areas where people drive, particularly in urban areas like New York City. About 60 percent of all fatal accidents in cities occur at intersections, according to statistics from the Federal Highway Administration. Knowing New York City traffic signal rules can help make you a safer driver.

Roughly one-third of those fatal car crashes happened at intersections controlled by a traffic light, while 38 percent occurred at crossings governed by a stop sign. Most of the people killed were occupants of motor vehicles, but other users including bicyclists and pedestrians were among the fatalities.

New York City has established specific rules for how motorists, cyclists, and pedestrians should navigate intersections in the city. However, when someone doesn’t obey the rules, an accident could result.

If you or a loved one has been seriously injured in a New York car accident at a traffic signal, protect your rights by calling the New York City car accident attorney at David Resnick & Associates, P.C., for a consultation. There is no obligation, so call today at 212-279-2000 or contact the firm through our online form.

New York City Traffic Signal Rules

Section 4-03 of the New York City Department of Transportation’s Traffic Rules regulates how vehicular and foot traffic navigates intersections that are governed by signals. The full text of the regulations is available in PDF here from the NCDOT. Here are highlights of the rules:

Section 4-03

Traffic Signals

(a) Traffic control signals. Whenever traffic is controlled by traffic control signals exhibiting different colored lights successively, the following colors shall indicate and apply to operators of vehicles and to pedestrians, except as superseded by pedestrian control signals, as follows:

1. Green alone:

2. Steady yellow alone, dark period, or red-green combined when shown following the green signal:

3. Steady red alone:

4. Arrows. When colored lights shaped as arrows are used as traffic control signals, arrows pointing to the right shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to turn to the right, arrows pointing vertically shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to proceed straight through, and arrows pointing to the left shall apply to operators intending to enter the intersection to turn to the left. The colors of arrows shall have the same meanings as the colors of traffic signal lights but shall apply only to operators intending to enter the intersection to proceed in the direction controlled by the arrow.

5. Signs. Operators shall comply with signs that refer to traffic control signals at places other than the intersections at which such signals are located, for example, “Stop here on red.”

6. Signals not at intersections. In the event an official traffic control signal is erected and maintained at a place other than an intersection, all the provisions of this subdivision (a) shall be applicable, except those provisions which by their nature can have no application. Any stop required shall be made at a sign or marking on the pavement indicating where the stop shall be made, but in the absence of any such sign or marking the stop shall be made at the signal.

7. Nonfunctioning signals. Vehicular traffic facing a signal that is not working shall stop before entering the crosswalk on the near side of the intersection or, if none, then before entering the intersection and shall proceed with caution through the intersection.

(b) Blinking traffic control signals.

(c) Pedestrian control signals. Whenever pedestrian control signals are in operation, exhibiting the words “WALK” and “DON’T WALK” successively, the international green or red hand symbols, figures, or any other internationally recognized representation concerning the movement of pedestrians, such signals shall indicate as follows:

Were You Hurt By Another Who Was Not Obeying Traffic Rules? Call Now!

If you or someone you love was seriously injured in an auto accident and someone else was at fault, you could be entitled to compensation. The New York City personal injury attorneys at David Resnick & Associates, P.C., are skilled at evaluating traffic accident claims and have a track record of getting results for their clients. Call our firm today at 212-279-2000 or use our online contact form for a free evaluation of your case.

We serve car wreck victims in Manhattan, Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, the Bronx, and all of New York City.